RAAF Base Williamtown marked a significant milestone this month, with Aircraftman Cody Mann becoming the 200th member of the local EDGY lab.
"I was greeted with a warm welcome and I'm really excited to learn about new ways to innovate and help broaden my knowledge," Aircraftman Mann said.
He said he heard about the lab through his chain of command, with Sergeant Bryan Fischer serving as a local Lab Champion.
"What appeals to me about the EDGY community is that I can learn skills to bring ideas and innovations into reality," Aircraftman Mann said.
"I'm looking forward to working on a project where I can print out a model for testing and improvement, or get other perspectives from fellow lab members to refine or improve my innovations."
Lab Ambassador Flight Lieutenant Loretta Jolly said she was "incredibly proud" of the culture within the EDGY community at Williamtown.
"It's a community where innovators of all ranks, roles and backgrounds come together with a shared purpose," Flight Lieutenant Jolly said.
"The way members support each other, offer feedback and collaborate is a reminder that innovation shouldn't be a solo journey - success is driven by the connections made within a strong network of people."
She paid particular note of the lab's champions as pivotal in promoting the lab's value and the capabilities of the EDGY innovation community.
"Our champions are the heart and soul of the EDGY community," Flight Lieutenant Jolly said.
"They are the people who give their time, energy and knowledge as a resource to help others. They support and coach members to achieve their goals, and constantly ask, 'How can we do better?'
"Without their selfless commitment, the [Williamtown] EDGY lab and innovation community wouldn't be what it is. I'm proud to work alongside them every day."
